F 

KsAtss 




THE PROPOSED 



ATLANTA 
NATIONAL 



MILITARY 

PARK. 



A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT 



ILLUSTRATED. 



ISSUED BY THE 

ATLANTA BUSINESS MEN'S LEAGUE, 

ATLANTA, GA. 




Book_^-L___ 



THE PROPOSED 



ATLANTA 
NATIONAL 



MILITARY 
PARK, 



A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT 



ILLUSTRATED. 



ISSUED BY THE 

ATLANTA BUSINESS MEn'S LEAGUE, 

ATLANTA, GA. 



A LETTER FROM EX-PRESIDENT HARRISON. 

INDIANAPOLIS, December 26, 1899. 
T, H. Martin, Secretary, 

Atlanta Business Mens League, 

Atlanta. 
My Dear Sir :--Some time ago I saw in the newspapers some notice of an effort being made 
to establish a National Military Park at Atlanta, which would incorporate the principal 
battle-fields of the campaign in that vicinity. The military incidents connected with the in- 
vestment and ultimate capture of Atlanta are certainly worthy of commemoration, and 
i should be glad to see the project succeed. 

Very truly yours. 




United. 

"No Nortl-| — no Soath| !" United th^e greater cour\try 

staqds 
For hjearts th^at beat all brotherly — for holiest clasp of 

hands 1 
"No North^ — no South" — one cour^try, where stars of 

glory sh^iqe — 
Th^e flag that \A/aves above us krjows no dividing ll-qe ! 

Or\e in the patriot-purpose ; one i-q th^e brave, brigl^t 

deed : 
One in tb^e Peace th^at blesses — one oq the fields th^at 

bleed ! 
Ur\der the stars th^at gem th^e flag r^o otl^er dreairj we 

l^now. 
Th^ar\ FreedoTr| fair ar\d Brotherh^ood — and God ordain 

it so. 

FRANK L. STANTON. 



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MAP OF THE 
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 




MAP OF ATLANTA CAMPAIGN— MAY 5th TO SEPTEMBER ist, 1864. 

[In March, ISfil, the Govertinicut at Washiiij,'ton determined to direct practically its entire mili- 
tary force against Riehmoad and Atlanta. To General Sherman was assigned the task of captur- 
ing Atlanta. The strength of General Sherman's army was about 112,000 men. At the openingof the 
campaign the Federal forces were located in the vicinity of Chattanooga. The month of April was 
consumed in preparation. On May 5th General Sherman's army began the forward movement. 
General Joseph E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate forces, was located at Dalton, 40 miles 
south of Chattanooga. His forces comprised an army of 40,000 men. The march from Chattanooga 
to Atlanta followed the route of the Western & Atlantic Railway, then known as the " State Road." 
The various battle grounds are marked on the above map. Ihe armies crossed the Chattaliooche 
River, 7 miles from Atlanta, on July 17th, and the battles around Atlanta followed immediately.] 



PROSPECTUS. 



Atlanta National Ailitar^^ Parl^. 



It is proposed to establish a National Military Park at Atlanta, incor- 
porating certain ground that was hotly contested by the opposing armies 
of Sherman and Hood during the memorable siege of July, 1864, and 



Battle of 
Peach! ree Creek 

July 20th, [864. 



SCALE: 

One and three quarter miles 
to inch. 



Circte shows city !imi(s 



Proposed 

nilLTARY PARK. 

Site Shown in Outline. 




it shall be the purpose of this pamphlet to explain the scope of the 
movement, and to give, as well, a brief outline of the historic events 
to be commemorated. 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



LOCATION AND EXTENT. 

The location of the proposed park is north of Atlanta, lying to the 
left of Peachtree road (called the " Buckhead road " in war times). 
Its nearest point is three miles distant from the city limits. The east- 
ern border extends across Peachtree Creek to the highlands lying, ap- 
proximately, three-fourths of a mile beyond the creek. The property 
line has a frontage of twenty-two hundred feet on Peachtree road. 
The southern border line extends westward from Peachtree road, in the 
direction of the Chattahoochee river, for a distance of about one and a 
fourth miles. The northern border of the property is somewhat longer, 
being practically two miles in length. Putting it in round figures, the 
park would be about one and a half miles square ; or, expressing it in 
another way, the property includes exactly twelve hundred and seventy- 
five acres. 

HISTORI C GR OUND . 

The ground is historic. Here was fought the famous Battle of Peach- 
tree Creek ; the initial struggle in the siege of Atlanta. It was one of 
the fiercest battles of the war ; lasting but little more than two hours, 
its character may be understood when it is said that, at its conclusion, 
more than three thousand men lay dead or wounded on the field. The 
losses were about equally divided between the opposing armies. There 
are certain historic facts, of peculiar interest — regarding which we will 
have more to say in another chapter — in relation to the battle of Peach- 
tree Creek, proving its especial claim for a place among the important 
battles of the war, and proving, as well, the fitness and importance of 
preserving and making its various locations of historic interest. Not 
until many years after the war was it known that this battle was carefully 
planned, three months prior to its occurrence, by a shrewd commander^ 
and that a long campaign was inaugurated with an especial view to bring- 
ing the opposing armies together for a final and decisive battle at 
Peachtree creek. The battle was fought at the contemplated location, 
but an unconsidered contingency arose and, but more of this later. 

THE BATTLES A R OUND ATL A NTA. 

The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought on July 20th, 1864. Two 
days later there was another terrific engagement east of the city. This 
was the bloodiest battle of the Atlanta campaign. Major-General James 
B. Mcpherson, of the Federal forces, and Major-General W. II. S. 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



Walker, of the Confederate army, were killed during this battle. A 
week later another battle occurred on the western limits of the city. It 
was a short engagement, but the battle was exceedingly fierce and 
bloody. These three battles were the principal engagements during the 
siege of Atlanta. Then the armies settled down and patiently awaited 
results. The Union forces had destroyed all railroads entering the city, 
and were now content with sending in occasional messengers in the form 
of shells. The Confederate forces remained in the city without further 
aggression. This state of things lasted until the first of September, 
when the Confederate forces withdrew from .the city, and it was imme- 
diately occupied by the Union army. 

REASONS FOR S ELECTING TH E SUGG ES TED SITE . 

After a very careful investigation, it was determined that the battle 
ground at Peachtree creek afforded the most appropriate location for a 
National military park that should constitute a memorial to the historic 
events and the heroic deeds of the Atlanta campaign. In the first place, 
this battle was the ini- 
tial engagement. The 
conditions under which 
it was fought, its loca- 
tion designed months 
ahead, and the strange 
fate that altered its di- 
rection at the last mo- 
ment, entitle it to pecu- 
liar historic renown. 
More than this, it 
would be quite imprac- 
ticable to establish a 
park incorporating the 
battle-fields east or 
west of the city. That territory is thickly populated and the property 
would be difficult to obtain and necessarily high in price. It is contem- 
plated, however, that the locations made historic by the brave deeds of 
July 22d and July 28th, as well as the battle-grounds at Peachtree creek, 
shall be marked by suitable tablets. This can be accomplished without 
great expense. It is also contemplated that the military park and other 
battle-fields around Atlanta shall be connected by a system of driveways. 




BATTLE OP JULY 22d. EAST OF THE CITY. 

(Scale: i;*! miles to inch. Circle shows city limits.) 



10 



Atlanta National Millpary Park. 



This is a thoroughly practical plan; entirely feasible from every jjoint of 
consideration. 

THE QUESTION OF EXPENSE. 

The property which it is proposed to incorporate as a park is owned 
by some twenty-five different people. Several of the holdings front 

directly on 
Peachtree road 
and, for this rea- 
son, are (j u i t e 
valuable. Lim- 
ited options have 
been secured on 
all of the land at 
reasonable 
prices; the aver- 
age on the entire 
property b e i n g 
one hundred and 
twenty-two d o 1- 
lars per acre. 
When it is con- 
sidered that the 

BATTLE OF JULY 28th, WFST OF THE CITY. piOpCl } 1 OS 

(Scale: i;'4 miles to inch. Circlr shows city limits.) Ollly three milcS 

distant from a prosperous and growing city of one hundred thousand 
inhabitants, this must be recognized as an extremely low valuation. 

PRESENT STATUS OF THE MOVEMENT. 

On December 5th, 1899, immediately upon the assembling of Con- 
gress, bills were introduced in the Senate and House asking for the 
special legislation necessary to establish the park, and carrying an 
a])propriation of three hundred thousand dollars with which to purchase 
the property and cover other necessary expenses incident to establish- 
ing the ])ark. The bill is published in full elsewhere in this pamphlet. 

A FITTIN G ME M ORIAL. 

The Atlanta National Military Park would constitute an enduring 
memorial of the Atlanta Campaign — one of the most im[Jortant of the 
entire war. Within a j-^criod of four months the contending armies lost, 




Atlanta National Military Park. u 



in killed and wounded, an appalling total of 50,000 men. The Armies of 
the Cumberland, the Tennessee and the Ohio, aggregating 1 12,000 fio^ht- 
ing men, under General Sherman, were marched from Chattanoosfa to 
destroy the storehouse of the Confederacy — Atlanta. The active cam- 
paign began May 5th, 1864. The siege of Atlanta began on July 17th, 
two and a half months later, and the principal battles were fought July 
20th, 22d and 28th. The siege continued until September ist, when Gen. 
Hood, commanding the Confederate forces, recognizing the futility of 
further defense, withdrew his army and moved in the direction of Nash- 
ville, Tenn. The city was occupied immediately by the Union forces. 
Later, on November 15th, General Sherman's army began its memora- 
ble " March to the Sea." Before its departure, however, all property 
that might, in any way, contribute aid to the Confederate forces, was 
burned or destroyed. Thus, at the end of a long struggle, came a final 
crushing disaster. The city was practically reduced to a bed of ashes. 
From its ashes the city has grown, in thirty-five years, to be the me- 
tropolis of the South. Surely, the suburbs of this prosperous city are a 
fit location for the memorial which it is sought to establish. Thousands 
of men, in all parts of the country, are intensely interested in the project. 
It has the endorsement of the leaders of both armies, and many letters 
have been received tendering cordial support. Some of these letters 
are published elsewhere in this pamphlet. Thousands of veterans come 
annually to revisit the battle-fields around Atlanta. It is due these men, 
and it is due their comrades of long ago, the men who gave up their 
lives a willing sacrifice on the sacred altar of devotion to country, 
home and loved ones, that the historic scenes of their hard-fought 
battles be marked and preserved. 



GENERAL SHERMAN'S ACCOUNT. 

[Thr JoUdwing brief account of the Batth o/ Pcachtrce 
Criik is fnkrn front tlie ^^ Memoirf of Qciicral W. T. Slicrman,'' 
Vol, IT, piiii( 7,s.] 

•' The troops had crossed Peaehtree creek, were deployed, but at 
that time were resting for noon, when, witliout notice, the ene- 
my came pouring out of their trenches down upon them, they 
became commingled, and fought in many places liand to hand. 
General Thomas happened to be near the rear of Newton's divi- 
sion, and got some field batteries in good position, on the north 
side of Peaehtree creek, from which he directed a furious fire on 
a mass of the enemy, which was passing around Newton's left 
and exposed flank. After a couple of hours of hard and close 
Conflict, the enemy retired slowly within its trenches, leaving 
his dead, and many wounded, on the field. Johnson's and 
Newton's losses were light, for they had partially covered their 
fronts with light parapet, but Hooker's whole corps fought in 
open ground, and lost about fifteen hundred men. He i-eported 
four hundred rebel dead left on the ground, and that the rebel 
wounded would number tour thousand; but this was conject- 
ural, for most of them got back within their own lines. We 
had, however, met successfully, a bold sally, and repelled it 
handsomely, and were also put on our guard; and the event 
illustrated the future tactics of our enemy " 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



13 




OLD BREASTWORKS ON THE j; ATTLEFI KLJ) AT PEACHTREE CREEK. 

THC STORy OP 

Ti)e Rattle of Peact)tree Creel^. 



"I have traveled a thousand miles and better to visit the battle-fields 
around Atlanta. Thirty-five years ago I spent a most unpleasant month 
in this vicinity. There were certain diilficulties in the way of an easy 
approach to your city, and I remained on the outskirts impatiently 
awaiting a suitable opportunity to pass within." 

The speaker was a pleasant-faced old gentleman. I had met him in- 
cidentally in the rotunda of one of our hotels, and a casual conversa- 
tion developed the fact that he was a veteran of the war between the 
States. He had commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland, 
and his facetious reference to the matter, as quoted above, led me to 
question him further. I became very much interested, and before we 
parted I had engaged to be his escort for a tour of the battle-fields on 
the day following. 

I spoke of the incident, later in the day, to General B., one of our 
"war-time" citizens, and he expressed a desire to accompany us on our 
tour of inspection. So the matter was arranged in this way. 



14 Atlanta National Military Park. 



Now that I am called upon to write of the historic and intensely in- 
teresting facts of the Atlanta Campaign, I feel that I cannot do better 
than to recall the day that I spent on the battle-fields in conijian}^ with 
these two old gentlemen. Enemies they were in former days, but that 
was long ago. In the genial sunshine of this October day they wan- 
dered together over their old battle-ground ; peacefully and without 
passion, they discussed the stirring scenes and heroic deeds there 
enacted. It was my privilege to hear from their lips the relation of many 
interesting stories and incidents. Some of them were of considerable 
historic importance. So, convinced that I cannot improve upon the 
story of that day's experience, I shall retell it here, apologizing only for 

the poor abilities of the chronicler. 

^ ;;; ^; * |; >i; ;i; * * * * * * 

Our party was astir early. Thinking that our Northern friend might 
be interested in securing a few photographs, taken under his direction 
on the battle-fields, I had arranged for a photographer to accompany us 
on the trip. We drove rapidly out Peachtree street, having determined 
to visit first the scene of the Battle of Peachtree Creek, which lies five 
miles north of the city. This was the initial battle in the siege of 
Atlanta, and we were to visit the battle-fields in the order of the engage- 
ments. 

Our Northern friend had entered the army as colonel of an Ohio 
regiment ; but just prior to the Battle of Peachtree Creek he had been 
placed in command of a brigade. Later he was promoted to a major- 
generalcy, and he quitted the army with this title at the close of the war. 
The Confederate officer of our party had commanded a brigade in 
General Stewart's division of Johnston's army. Both of my companions 
had been in the thick of the fight at Peachtree creek. Naturally, there- 
fore, their conversation became reminiscent. 

" This road," explained Gen. B., when we had passed beyond the 
city limits, "was called the ' Buckhead road' in war times. There are 
some substantial changes in the character of the road since the old 
days, eh. General?" 

"Yes indeed, said General S. (I shall designate my friends by an 
initial only.) " As I remember the ' Buckhead road ' it was little else 
than a streak of dust, and very disagreeable dust it was too. The 
roadway is now a splendid boulevard. Do you know, I was thinking, on 
my way to your city, of a project to connect the battle-fields of Atlanta 
by a system of driveways. Has such a thing been considered ? " 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



15 




" OEERI.AND " — LOCATION OF HOWELL's (COXFEDERATE j BATTERY. 

" Yes," said General B., " we have considered the idea in connection 
with another plan, which is now under way. We are going to ask the 
Government to establish a National Military Park at Atlanta, incorpo- 
rating the ground upon which the Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought. 
Our plan also contemplates the construction of a system of driveways 
which will connect the battle-grounds east and west of the cit}'." 

" A capital idea," said General S. " Surely the wonderful campaign 
of Atlanta deserves a memorial of this character. But why not establish 
the park on the ground of the principal battle — that of July 22, east of 
the city ? " 

"That section is too thickly populated," explained General B. "A 
part of that battle-ground is practicallv within the limits of the city. 




SCENE ON SIIOAL CREEK NKA i; COI.l.lKi: i;oAI> 



1 6 Atlanta National Military Park. 



It would be absolutely impossible to purchase the propert}- on a basis 
that would be satisfactory to the Government. And besides, there are 
certain historic facts connected with the Battle of Peachtree Creek that 
lend great interest to that engagement. Did vou know that from a 
Confederate standpoint, it was one of the most carefully planned battles 
of the war; that it had been thoroughly delibrated upon and arranged in, 
every detail at least three months prior to its occurrence ? " 

"That is news to me," said Gen. S. "I remember very distinctly 
that there was no prearrangement on our part. We were principally 
concerned just at that time, in crossing" the creek. We had met with 
practically no resistance since crossing the Chattahoochee river, and I 
presume that we had grown somewhat careless in regard to our picket 
lines. Of course, we expected to run up against trouble soon after 
crossing the creek ; but we were certainly not expecting an attack. 
Well, as I said, we were crossing the creek at the time. Some of my 
men were on rudely-constructed rafts. They were having a good deal 
of fun over the matter. The day was extremely hot, and I think the men 
rather enjoyed being in the water. I was down at the water's edge, 
urging greater haste in the work of crossing, when suddenly our line 
was attacked. We got into fighting order as rapidly as possible, and 
immediately settled down to business. The character and method of 
the attack was a great surprise to our army. I have always thought that 
there was some serious meaning behind it, and I should like to know 
the facts." 

General B. hesitated for some moments, but, being urged, he finally 
related the following interesting account of the famous Battle of Peach- 
tree Creek, regarding which there has been a deal of speculation and 
conjecture: 

"The facts were given me by Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, in person, directly 
after he was relieved from command of the Confederate forces. You 
will remember, of course, that this much-discussed change of command 
occurred just prior to the siege of Atlanta. Notice of relief was con- 
veyed to Gen. Johnston by a brief telegram, announcing simply that 
Gen. J. B. Hood had been placed in command, and directing that he be 
given immediate charge of the army. This telegram commented upon 
Gen. Johnston's failure to impede the j^rogress of the enemy, and inti- 
mated plainly that the authorities at Richmond had lost all confidence 
in him. The telegram reached him on July 17th. The Union forces had 
crossed the Chattahoochee river, and every hour brought them nearer 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



17 




WHERE THE BATTLE RAGED — VALLEY OF PEACIITREE CREEK — LOOKING NORTIT. 

to the city- Gen. Hood assumed command of the Confederate forces 
on the morning of the iSth. The Federals had then reached Peach- 
tree creek, five miles only from the heart of the city. Hood was forced 
to hasty prejjaration. On the second day after assuming command — 
July 20th — he attacked the Federal line at Peachtree creek. Thus the 
battle started. 

"Contrast this with the well-considered engagement j)lanned by Gen. 
Johnston. During the preceding April, while at Dalton, Johnston, hav- 




PEACHTREE CREEK — LOCATION OF GENERAL CrEARY S FAMOUS PONTOON BRIDGE. 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



ing knowledge of Sherman's purpose to march against Atlanta, carefully 
considered every phase of the situation; he weighed each favorable and 
unfavorable condition of ground and surroundings; he counted the 
chances of holding this and that position with 40,000 men against a 
force outnumbering his by nearly three to one. The proposition was a 
hopeless one, unless a wonderfully advantageous position could be found 
and the enemy induced to accept battle at that particular location. It 
was then that General Johnston determined upon a cautious and orderly 
retreat to Atlanta, retiring as Sherman's army advanced, and fighting 
only enough to deceive the enemy as to his real purpose. 

"This plan was not in accordance with Gen. Johnston's idea of cam- 
paigning. When he assumed command of the army at Dalton on 
December 27th, four months prior to the opening of the Atlanta cam- 
paign, he vigorously advocated an advance upon the I'ederal forces, 
then in the neighborhood of Chattanooga. He appealed to his superior 
officers for authority to make such an attack; but his wishes were not 
given favorable consideration, and it soon became ajjparent that the 
enemy was contemplating an aggressive campaign against Atlanta. To 
meet this emergency, Johnston altered his plans and decided upon a 
defensive policy. 

"Careful study and investigation convinced him that the decisive 
conflict which he desired should be fought at the gates of his base 
of supplies, — Atlanta. This for the reason that evena temporary reverse 
would compel his withdrawal to a j^lace of safety for recuperation and 
reorganization ; and only a well-fortified city could suj^ply this demaiul. 
Consequently, the question resolved itself into this : At what particular 
locality in front of Atlanta could he give battle to the best advantage? 
This point settled, another important question presented itself: How 
could the enemy be brought to the desired localit\? Gen. Johnston 
solved these two im[)ortant problems, and his reasoning was well-founded. 
The Federal army crossed the Chattahoochee river at the location 
counted upon in Johnston's plans ; the forces were de])loyed according 
to his anticipation ; in short, the scheme develo[)ed satisfactorily in every 
way. But when the critical period arrived, when the very climax of the 
plot had been reached, and nothing remained but the final arrangement 
of the battle-line, Johnston's hand was stayed. He was relieved irom 
command, and it fell to the lot of another man to guide the destiny of 
the Confederate forces. Hood wasa comparative stranger to Johnston's 
army. He had joined it just prior to the march from Dalton; and it is 



Atlanta National MiLrrARV Park. 



19 




THE FAMOUS HILL AT HOWELL S MILL. 



beyond belief that, within the limited period of his command prior to the 
battle, two days only, he could have become properly acquainted with 
the forces, or that he could have arranged a definite plan of battle. 

"To understand the situation it must be borne in mind that the Chat- 
tahoochee river flows, approximately, from north to south. The river 
lies seven miles west of Atlanta. Consequently the armies approaching 
the city from Chattanooga were compelled to cross this river. Peach- 





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LOOKING UP THE VALLEY— EAST - FROM HILL TOP AT lUnVELL S MILL. 



20 Atlanta National MiLrrAuv Park. 



tree creek lies five miles north of Atlanta. It flows from east to west 
and empties into the Chattahoochee river at a point exactly northwest 
of the cit}'. 

"Upon first thought one might suppose that Johnston's strongest j)Osi- 
tion would have been at the Chattahoochee river. Why did he not 
■establish his army on the eastern side of the river and prevent the pas- 
sage of Sherman's forces? This question has been frequently asked, but 
it is easily answered. Sherman would not have attempted a crossing in 
the face of fortifications. He would simply have marched to the north 
or south until he could have found an unfortified crossing place. A 
final stand at the river was considered by Johnston and abandoned for 
the reasons that I have explained. Engineers had been sent from Dalton 
to study the topography of the entire country surrounding Atlanta. 
Their reports developed the advantageous jjosition at Peachtree creek. 
The creek passed through a narrow valley, and an army, properly loca- 
ted, on the highlands south of the creek, could do terrible execution 
upon an advancing enemy. The creek itself would prove a considerable 
barrier to the enemy's |:)rogress. All of these conditions were carefully 
studied out from the maps supplied by the engineers, and the \allev of 
Peachtree creek was settled upon by Gen. Johnston as the most advan- 
tageous place for final battle. 

"His plans for forcing an engagement at this point were simple. He 
■constructed what appeared to be formidable works at the river. He 
knew that the Federal army would be extremely cautious about crossing 
in the face of fortifications, and that even a slight showing of force 
would induce Sherman to seek an unfortified crossing place. There 
were numerous fords to the north, but none to the south that could be 
used with safety. Consequently he knew that Gen. Sherman would 
reconnoiter the fords to the north. They were purposely left without 
fortification. This Sherman did, and the entire Union armv crossed the 
river north of Peachtree creek as contemplated. 

"Having accomplished a safe crossing, it was Johnston's theory that 
Sherman would divide his forces and attempt to surround the city. It 
could reasonably be conjectured that the Federals would proceed cau- 
tiously, and that the attack upon the city would be planned with great de- 
liberation. Gen. Johnston rightly assumed that the army of the Cumber- 
land, comprising more than half of Sherman's entire force, would attack 
the city from the north, and that the forces under Generals McPherson and 
Schofield would be held inactive east of the city to await the outcome 



Atlanta National Milita;<v Park. 



21 




LOOKING nmVX TUB VALLKY — WEST — PR(^M THE HILL TOP AT lIOWELl/s MILL. 

of the battle at Peachtree creek. With Sherman's forces separated, it 
was Johnston's belief that he could destroy, or capture, the army of the 
Cumberland, and having accomplished this heroic task, it was his pur- 
pose to promptly attack Schofield and McPherson, whose combined 
forces were not equal to Johnston's arm3^ 

"I know, of course, that General Hood made a desperate effort to 
accomplish this same purpose; but his plan of action was not at all in 
accord with Johnston's idea. The army was totally unaccustomed and 




TIIIC OLD DAM AT IIDWELL S MILL 



22 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



unprepared for Hood's methods. The retreat from Dalton had been 
conducted with an especial view to the task set for the army in front 
of Atlanta. Nearly all of the fighting had been done behind substantial 
fortifications, for every life saved meant one more man in front of 
Atlanta." 

By this time we had reached the battle-field. General B. suggested 
that we leave the carriage and proceed on foot to an eminence over- 
looking the valley. He wished to finish his narrative where he could 
point out certain topographical situations. Upon reaching the desired 
spot, he continued : 

"There, General, do you notice that the ground south of the creek 
rises graduallv to where we are now standing; possibly a mile from 
the water's edge ? Of course, there are some irregularities, but, 
practically speaking, this slo[)e extends the entire length of 
the valley. It was here, along the crest of this hill, that 
Johnston proposed to entrench his forces and await the advance of 
the Federal army. The Federal forces would undoubtedly advance 
through yonder valley, and thev did. The enemy would expect to find 
Johnson's main army behind jjermanent fortifications much nearer the 
city. In a word, it was Gen. Johnston's purpose to surprise the enemy 
in an unexpected position, and bring the entire force of his army to 
benr under these conditions. It would be difficult, I think, to plan a 
more embarrassing situation than this. The Federal forces would have 
been compelled to advance against earthworks manned by a force nearly 
ec|ual to the attacking army, and rendered very much more than equal 
through the agency of permanent fortifications. Retreat for the Fed- 
eral forces would have been almost out of the question. The valley is 
narrow, and the creek in its center would have made withdrawal prac- 
ticUU' im]:)OSsible. 

"Thus had General Johnston j^lanned the Battle of I'eachtree Creek. 
It was fought on very different lines. Hood decided upon aggressive 
methods, and an attack in the oj^en. Some of his generals were not in 
s\-mpathy with the plan, and the men were unused to fighting of this 
character. The result is a matter of history. Johnston had absolute 
confidence in his plan of battle. For three long months it was on his 
mind constantly. Every detail had been carefully gone over and arranged. 
He staked his name antl reputation and the success of his cause upon the 
issue of this single battle, and lost — not the battle, for he did not direct 
its course, nor was it fought in accordance with his plans; but he lost the 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



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SIIOAL CREEK — NEAR ITS JCXCTION' WITH PEACHTREE CREEK. 

one opportunity of the campaign. His dream of conquest was rudely 
broken. But who knows ? The result might have been the same under 
any circumstances. The goddess of battle is a fickle jade, and the for- 
tunes of war cannot be foretold." 

Gen. S. had listened to the narrative with intense interest. He was 
plainly surprised at many of its disclosures, but, on the other hand, was 
able to confirm many of the situations referred to, and in turn 
related briefly his experience in the campaign. 




•"ft ^" j' 



v\ 







OLD BREASTWORKS IN THE FOREST NEAR llOWhl.I. S MILL ROAD. 



24 Atlanta National MiLLrAKv Park. 



"We little knew," he said, "what was before us when the campaign 
opened and we left Chattanooga to march against Johnston at Dalton.. 
In a general way we understood that Atlanta was our objective point. 
We knew, too, that General Johnston's army opposed our progress; we 
learned a good deal more regarding the latter before we reached Atlanta. 
During the early days of the campaign I remembered hearing General 
Sherman say that the authorities at Washington had determined to con- 
centrate all forces for the accomplishment of two objects: First, the 
capture of Richmond, the enemy's seat of government; and, second, the 
capture of Atlanta, the enemy's base of supplies. With this understand- 
ing of the matter we made our way to Atlanta. We carried out our 
part of this program ; we captured Atlanta, and came very near getting 
to Richmond in time to help Grant accomplish his part of the contract. 
And we did this, notwithstanding our excursion to Savannah, sometimes 
referred to as 'Sherman's March to the Sea.' 

" I remember very little of special interest in the campaign until we 
came out of the woods on the banks of the Chattahoochee one bright 
July morning. There had been some hard fighting before our army 
reached that point; but in some way my regiment had seen very little of 
it. We knew that there would be heated fighting in front of Atlanta, 
and we had been anxious to get at it. We counted the serious work of 
the campaign as begun on July i/th, the day we crossed the Chattahoo- 
chee river. Shortly after crossing I was placed in charge of a brigade. 
My own and two regiments of Illinois troops made up my command. 
We moved gradually nearer the city, and on the 20th, as I have already 
explained, my command was in the act of crossing the creek when our line 
was attacked. The fighting was somewhat irregular for a while, but 
within a surprisingly short time after the first shots were lired the oppos- 
ing armies were drawn up in battle array and an advance w^as ordered. 
I remember the scene as if it were vesterday. I'he battle lines came 
nearer and nearer together; there was no firing for (|uite a period; an 
age it seemed to me ; but the deadly work began presently and the 
fighting was terrific while it lasted. It was late in the day, however, [)os- 
sibly 4 o'clock, when the engagement began. The heat of the fight lasted 
less than an hour; but that was enousfh. The execution had been frioiitful. 
Our forces lost more than 1,500 men in killed and wounded. We had a 
deal of vigorous fighting around Atlanta, but nothing hotter than this- 
initial engagement." 

During the comjiletion of this narrative, we had strolled back to the 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



25 




BATTLE SCARRED TREES IX FRONT OF NEWTON S LINE. 



carriage, which 
had been left at a 
point on the Col- 
lier road. Thence 
we drove to 
" Deer 1 an d," a 
beautiful countrv 
home on Peach- 
tree road, the 
grounds of which 
would constitute 
the entrance to 
the j)roposed Mil- 
itary Park. Gen. 
S. commented 
upon the beauty 
of the scene, and 
suggested that a 

photograph be taken. This was done, the view incorporating a stretch of 
the magnificent roadway in the foreground and catching, through the 
treetops, a glimpse of faraway mountains in the direction of Kennesaw. 

"Some very destructive work was done from this hilltop," said Gen- 
eral B. " A Confederate battery. Captain Evan P. Howell's, stationed 
somewhat nearer the city in the beginning of the fight, was later moved 
to this position; and, as the engagement progressed, the guns were moved 
to the crest of the hill commanding the valley. General Stevens, o^ 
South Carolina, was killed within a hundred yards of where we are stand- 
ing." 

We passed through the grounds and on to the crest of the hill where 
the Confederate battery had been finally located. Another photograph 
was taken from this point, showing the valley and the highlands beyond. 
The location commands the valley for a mile in either direction. It was a 
beautiful scene. The wooded hills were bright with the tints of autumn. 
The valley, bathed in sunshine and breathing of peace, stretched away 
in the distance. The historic stream was in plain view. Its rippled 
surface, reflectino- the sunshine, relieved the somber brown of the valley 
meadows. Its winding pathway added grace to the scene and made 
the picture charming. 

"What magnificent grounds for a park !" exclaimed Gen. S. "Very- 



:26 Atlanta National Military Park. 



little artificial beautification would be necessary. Surely, the natural 
conditions could not be improved upon." 

From the crest of the hill we continued our way down the valley to 
the site of Howell's mill, some two miles from Peachtree road. It was 
here that the Federal forces first attempted a crossing. The place was 
covered by a Confederate battery, however, and the attempt to cross at 
that point was abandoned. We secured excellent views of the famous 
hill, located immediately north of the old mill. Views were also taken 
up and down the valley from the top of this eminence. It had been 
our purpose to spend a couple of hours at Peachtree creek, going thence 
to view the other battle-fields ; but the party became so interested that 
the day was well spent before we became aware of the fact. We de- 
cided, therefore, to " make a da}' of it " at Peachtree creek, and leave 
the other battle-fields for another day. 

Leaving Howell's mill, we crossed the creek and walked back through 
the valley north of the creek. General S. located the spot upon which 
liis brigade had camped just prior to crossing the creek. The location 
of Gen. Geary's famous pontoon bridge was found and photographed. 
We re-crossed the creek near this point, by means of a county bridge 
recently constructed, and hunted out the spot where the brigade, under 
Gen. S., had entered the fight. We found the earthworks among the 
pines where his men had slept, guns in hand, through the night follow- 
ing the day of battle. The formal ion of the trenches had remained 
nearly perfect through the lapse of years. We found bullet-scarred 
trees and old canteens, bits of exploded shells, and many other evi- 
dences of the battle that raged long ago. We wandered here and there 
over the ground until the daylight waned and the gathering shades of 
night fell upon the scene. How weird it was ! How fancy played upon 
the senses, and conjured back to life the hosts of long ago. There, 
among the trees, they marched again in silent column. How vivid the 
picture ! 

" How long befo' you gemmens is goin' -home ? I's been out heah 
pockin' 'roun' wid \ou all mighty nigh sence daylight dis mawnin', 
an' I'm haungry as a daug." The words came to us through the semi- 
darkness from the Jehu on our carriage box, and the protest, thus diplo- 
matically conveyed, ended the day's investigations and turned our faces 
homeward. T. H. M. 



Indorsed b^ tf)e Veterans 

of 5otI) Armies. 



Resolutions Adopted By 
CAMP No. 159, UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS. 

[The followiug resolution was introduced by Col. A.J. West, and was adopted unanimously', by 
rising vote. Col. West is Past Commander of the Atlanta Camp, and was recently elected Brigadier 
General to command the North Georgia Brigade, U C. V.] 

RESOLUTION. 

" IJ'/hiras, There is an effort being made to have the Government 
establish and maintain a National Military Park out of the battle-fields 
around Atlanta ; and 

" JJ7/rrras, Work of this character has already been accomplished with 
reference to the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, 
and other points that were not of such strategic importance ; and 

" JJViereas, Atlanta, during the war, was not second to any in impor- 
tance from a military point of view, and by reason of her stout resistance 
became one of the most historical points in the world, as it was here, 
on the battle-fields around Atlanta, that American valor shone forth in 
such brilliant splendor as to elicit an applause that has gone around the 
world. It was here, too, on these battle-fields, that the earth was made 
rich with the blood of William H. T. Walker and that of James B. 
McPherson, the rising star of the Eederal army ; and it was here, too, that 
Georgians immortalized themselves for all time to come. In order, there- 
fore, that these historic spots may be properly marked and the record of 
these brave men be perpetuated therefore, be it 

"Resolved, That Atlanta Camp No. 159, United Confederate Vet- 
erans, does most cheerfully and heartily concur in this effort to have the 
Government purchase this ground and properly improve and beautify 
the same as has been done on the several battle-fields named above, that 
future gen-erations may see and know how their ancestors fought, bled 
and died ; and be it further 

" Resolved, That we recjuest our immediate representatives in the 
National Congress, Senators Bacon and Clay, and the Hon. L. F. Liv- 



28 Atlanta National Military Park. 



ingston in the House, to use their influence and their efforts to effect 
this measure, and that we ask the other representatives from Georgia to 
aid them in every way, as this is no local matter, but one that concerns 
not only the State of Georgia, but our entire country." 

Resolution Adopted By 
O. M. MITCHELL POST, GRAND ARMY OF TI^E REPUBLIC. 

[The following resolution was introduced by Hon. Alexander Matiison, and unanimously adopted. 
Colonel Mattison is Commander of the Department of Georgia, G. A. R.] 

RESOLUTION. 

" UVir/ras, There is a movement on foot to establish a National Mili- 
tary Park at Atlanta, incorporating the grounds u|)on which the Battle 
of Peachtree Creek was fought, July 20th, 1864; and 

" Wlicreds, A bill has been introduced in Congress asking for the nec- 
essary legislation, and carrving an approjM'iation of $300,000 for the 
purchase of the property — 1,200 acres — and options having been secured 
on this property at an average of Si 22.00 per acre; therefore, be it 

" Resolved, That we cordially indorse the movement and pledge our 
co-operation for its success." 

INDIVIDUAL OPINION AND REMINISCENCE. 

EX-PRESIDENT BENJAMIN HARRISO N. 

During the Atlanta u Some time ago I saw in the newspapers 

campaign Gen. Harri- 

son wa.s a Colonel, some uotice of an effort being made to establish 

commanding the First national park at Atlanta which would incor- 

Brigade, Third Divi- ^ 

sion of the Twentieth porate the principal battle-fields of the cam- 

Army Corp.s, Federal . . , ... ^^, ... ... 

forces. paign in that vicinitv. ihe militar)- incidents 

connected with the investment and ultimate 
capture of Atlanta are certainly worthy of 
commemoration, and I should be glad to see 
your project succeed." 

GE NERAL J. J. FINLEY. 

General Finiey com- " The ijlan to establish a National Military 

nianded the famous ' 

Brigade bearing his Park on the battle-field at Peachtree creek,, 

name and yas en- commemorative of the battles at and near At- 

gaged in all the bat- 
tles around Atlanta, lanta, has my earnest and cordial concurrence. 

The historic facts in regard to those battles are- 
well known, and deserve the memorial which; 
has been suggested." 



Atlanta National Military Tark. 



29 



GENERAL SMITH D. ATKINS. 



General Atkins en- 
tered the army as Col- 
onel of the liL'd Regi- 
ment Illinois Mount- 
■ed Infantry. In the 
fights aronnd Atlanta 
he commanded a 
Brigade in the Cav- 
alry Corps, Third Di- 
vision, Army of the 
Cumberland. 



" I like the idea of a National Military Park 
on the battle-field of Peachtree creek. It is 
altogether a modern idea to turn battle-fields 
into military parks, with battle-lines marked, 
so the historian may trace every movement of 
the battles. It is especially modern and i\mer- 
ican to commemorate in that manner the bat- 
tle-fields of a great civil war, erecting monu- 
ments precisely alike to those who fought for, 
and those who fought against the Government, 
not in glory for the victory of the Union 
forces, not in celebration of Confederate de- 
feat, but in honor of American valor in blue 
and gray, for we are all Americans, |)roud of 
American heroism on American battle-fields. 
No other government on earth was ever strong 
enough and wise enough to do that. But the 
great Republic may do it, for we are again a 
united people, with one flag and one destiny." 

GENERAL ALEXANDER P. STEWART. 



Lieut. Gen. Alexan- 
der^?. Stewart com- 
manded the left wing 
-of the Confederate 
forces in the Battle of 
Peachtree Creek. His 
troops, comprising an 
Army Corps, had for- 
merly been comman- 
ded by Gen. Polk, 
and upon the death of 
that officer, at Kenne- 
saw Mountain, the 
Corps passed to the 
<-ommand of Gen. 
Loring, and later to 
Gen. Stewart, after 
which it was known 
as/'Stewart's Corps.' 



" I am very decidedly of the opinion that 
the Atlanta Military Park project is a very 
deserving one. I was a participant in most of 
the battles around Atlanta, especially that of 
Peachtree creek on the 20th of July, 1864, and 
in that of Ezra Church, on the 28th. It is 
very desirable, I think, to consecrate the 
ground on which those battles were fought to 
public uses as a National Military Park, and 
to connect them by means of good driveways. 
I earnestly hope your efforts to this end 
may be crowned with great success. In my 
judgment it was a great misfortune for the 
Confederate cause when General Joseph E. 
Johnston was relieved from the command of 
the Confederate Army near Atlanta. The 
order relieving him was received by him on 



30 Atlanta National Military Park. 

Sunday, July 17th, 1864. I was at his head- 
quarters soon after the order came, and read it 
with great surprise, feeling that the fate of 
the camj:)aign was involved. I urged General 
Johnston not to turn over the command of the 
army to Gen. John B. Hood until after the fate 
of Atlanta should be decided ; he replied that 
he could not disobey the President. I repre- 
sented to him that the President was not aware 
of the situation, the gravity of which, in my 
judgment, would justify such a step. The 
next morning, Monday the i8th, a telegram, 
signed by General John B. Hood, Lieutenant- 
General William J. Hardee and myself, was 
dispatched to President Davis, asking him to 
suspend execution of the order relieving Gen- 
eral Johnston until the existing crisis should 
be over and the fate of Atlanta settled. His 
reply was received the evening of the same 
day, declining to accede to our recjuest, and 
insisting on the execution of the order. Gen. 
Johnston immediately retired, leaving Gen. 
Hood in command, and the battle of Peach- 
tree creek was fought on Wednesday the 20th. 
I have always believed that, had Gen. John- 
ston been in command of our army on that 
day we would have achieved a decided suc- 
cess, and the issue of the cam[)aign wouki 
have been very different." 

GENE RA L W ILLIAM B. BATE. 

General William B. '.J have a feeling recollection of some warm 

Bate, now in the Uni- 
ted States Senate. times about Atlanta, and I know that if any 
commanded a i)ivis- j^^^^j^ grounds are to be preserved those about 

ion 111 the Conleder- o l 

ate Army during- the Atlanta sliould. History tells of their im- 

battlcs around At- 1 1 ,- ' 1 1 

ij^iita. portance ; and those ot us who were there can 

bear feeling testimony of the interest there was 
in Atlanta in those days. I am warmlv in 
favor of the Atlanta |)ark." 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



3r 



GENERAL STEPHEN D. LEE. 



Lieutenant- Gener- 
al Stephen D. Lee 
commanded a corps 
in the Confederate 
Army during the en- 
gagements around 
Athmta When Cien. 
Hood succeeded Gen. 
Johnston in com- 
mand of the Confed- 
erate forces, Hood's 
Corps fell to the com- 
mand of Major-Gen- 
eral B. F. Cheatham. 
Gen. Lee succeeded 
Gen. Cheatham al- 
most immediately, 
and the corps was af- 
terwards known as 
"Lee's Corps." 



"I have seen through the Atlanta papers 
that a movement is on foot looking to the 
establishment of a National parlc, commemora- 
tive of the Atlanta cam[)aign in the great war 
between the states. As an active participant 
in the battle on the Lick Skillet road and at 
Jonesboro, preceding the evacuation of the citv, 
it would give me great pleasure to see the [)ar]v 
established. The Atlanta campaign was, in 
some respects, similar to the Vicksburg cam- 
paign, in that the battles around Vicksburg first 
split the Confederacy in twain, separating the 
states east of the Great River, from those to 
the west of it, confining the great struggle to 
the states east. The Atlanta campaign again 
split the states east of the river and virtual! \' 
ended the war by the junction of the grc it 
Union armies of Grant, Sherman, and Scholield. 
I hope the effort to establish the park will be 
successful. There can be no doubt of the good 
effects of their establishment in binding up the 
ofreat States and obliterating all sectional dif- 
ferences. Five parks have been established, 
and are now in process of completion. There 
must be a limit to the number, but certainly 
the park at Atlanta, commemorating the great 
campaign, should be one." 



GENERAL ORLAND SMITH. 



The close of the war 
saw Orland Smith a 
Brigadier- General. 
During the battles 
around Atlanta h e 
was Colonel of the 
Seventy third Regi- 
ment, Ohio Infantry. 



"The measure for establishing the Atlanta 
National Park has my cordial approval. The 
importance of your city ^s a center of great 
historic interest, it seems to me, must com- 
mend the jjroject to every unj)rejudiced mind. 
I will cheerfully contribute such support as is. 
in my power and as may be consistent." 



32 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



GENERAL CHARLES H. GROSVENOR. 



General Grosveii- 
or's regiineni, the l.sth 
Ohio, was not attach- 
ed to the Army of the 
Cumberland until 
after the battles 
around Atlanta. He 
was engaged in the 
battle of Nashville, 
December, 1864, a n d 
commanded a brig- 
ade in that famous 
fight. 



"From the plans as outlined I judge that a 
beautiful park can be made at Peachtree creek 
at comparatively small expense, and that it 
will preserve some of the most interesting of 
the man}' historic points in that section of the 
South. While I was serving in another ])art 
of the country at the time, the battle-fields 
about Atlanta nevertheless have a deep inter- 
est to me, as they must have to every man 
who served in the war, and I should like to 
see them jjroperly preserved. All these things 
must be done soon or it will be too late to get 
the best results. The men who were active 
participants in those stirring events are rapidly 
j)assing away. If the parks are to be of any 
value, they should be established at a time 
when the men who took |)art in the battles can 
give their aid in locating the various positions 
to make the surroundinu"s historicallv correct." 



GENERAL THOMAS I. WOOD. 



General Wood com- 
manded the Third Di- 
Tision of tlie Fourth 
Army Corps, Federal 
forces. 



"I most heartily and cordially appro\'e the 
proposition to establish a Military Park in the 
vicinit)' of Atlanta to commemorate the heroic 
deeds of arms performed by the combatants on 
both sides on those historic battle-fields. Such 
commemoration receives twofold force from the 
consideration that the combatants on both 
sides in these historic deeds of arms are more 
firmly united now than ever in fraternity under 
a common government. I trust the extent of 
the park and its historic ornamentation will be 
in harmony with the great deeds whose mem- 
ory is thus to be perpetuated. Doubtless 1 
could relate some incidents which would be 
interesting, but I hesitate to discriminate be- 
tween the deeds of individuals when the masses 
of both combatants behaved so heroically." 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



33 



Major-General John 
i\I. Palmer command- 
ed the Fourteenth 
Corps, Army of the 
Cumberland, and was 
in the thick of the 
fight at Peachtree 
creek. 



GENERAL JOHN M. PALMER . 

" I am altogether in favor of establishing a 
National Military Park, incorporating the bat- 
tle-field at Peachtree creek. I was present 
and took part in that battle. I remember that 
on the nineteenth of July, about noon, a man, 
whose name I cannot now recall, was ' called 
in ' by a musket, who had in his possession 
an Atlanta paper from which I learned that 
General Hood had superseded General Joe 
Johnston in command of the Confederate Army. 
About sunset Colonel McKay, my quarter- 
master, came up and asked me for the 'news.' 
I told him what the paper had stated as to the 
change of the Confederate generals. He said, 
' General, you will have to fight ! I knew 
Hood in San Antonio, Texas, and saw him bet 
two thousand dollars without a "pair" in his 
hand.' That night I constructed bridges across 
Peachtree creek and was ready for Hood in 
the morning. General Thomas asked ' What 
had frightened me? ' I told him what McKay 
had said. The next day we felt Hood, and he 
broke through our line, until General King 
restored it." 
MAJOR W. F. GOODSPEED. 



Ma j or Goodspeed was 
iu comtrand of the 
Ar.illery of the Second 
Division, Fourih Army 
Cjrps, Federal fo:c3S. 



"I heartily concur in the opinion that the 
battle-fields around Atlanta ought to be pre- 
served, and I will willingly do anything in my 
])ower to this end. In regard to personal rem- 
iniscences, I do not know of anything I could 
say that would be of interest. I can only say 
that we had some hard fighting all around At- 
lanta; in fact, on the whole Atlanta campaign. 
The division of which I was Chief of Artillery 
on the 20th of July did some very hard fight- 
ing at Peachtree creek. We had all we wanted 
to do to hold our own." 



34 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



GENERAL JOHN G. PARKHURST. 



General Parkhurst 
was Provost Marshal 
of the Union Army 
during the Atlanta 
campaign. 



"I fully appreciate the patriotic spirit which 
impels you to perpetuate the history of the 
incomparable Atlanta campaign, in which the 
casualties of the Army of the Cumberland 
alone amounted to 196 officers and 2,845 
enlisted men killed; 810 officers and 14,973 
enlisted men wounded ; 704 officers and 2,6o3 
men captured, in all, 21,534 men, besides the 
43,053 on the sick list, a majority of whom 
were sent to the rear. In this campaign, as 
Provost Marshal of the Union Army, I received 
over 8,000 men captured from the enemy. 
Although the Atlanta campaign culminated in 
he brilliant and terrible battle of Jonesboro, 
17 miles south of Atlanta, the severest and 
most desperate battle for Atlanta was fought 
on the ground selected by the retiring com- 
mander of the Confederate forces, General 
Johnston, and adopted by his successor, Gen- 
eral Hood, as the most favorable ground for 
the destruction of the Union Army, viz.: the 
banks of Peachtree creek, and I think these 
grounds the most appropriate for locating a 
National Military Park in commemorating the 
the battles for the possession of Atlanta." 

GENERAL GEORGE P. HARRISON. 



Gen. Harrison com- 
manded a Brigade in 
the Confederate Army, 
and was stationed for 
a time at Ft. Sumter. 
He was also tngaged 
in the Florida cam- 
paign, and took part :n 
the famous baUle of 
01 us tee. 



" I am favorably impressed with the move- 
ment to preserve and mark the battle-fields of 
the Atlanta campaign. There is no place in 
all the South where a National Military Park 
would be so frecpiently and generally visited as 
at Atlanta. The place of the initial battle, that 
of Peachtree creek, would be especially appro- 
priate. The battle at this point is the only one 
during my four years' experience in the Con- 
federate Army that I witnessed without being 
engaged in it. I was not engaged with the 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



35 



General Coburn, at 
the time of the Atlanta 
Campaign, was a Colo- 
rel. commauding: the 
Second Brigade, Third 
Divs:on of the Twen- 
tieth Army Corps, 
Federal forces. 



Confederate Army in the battles of Atlanta, 
but was passing through the city to join my 
command at Charleston, when I stopped over 
a day to witness this fight." 

GENER AL J OHN COBURN. 

"I think the project to establish a Military 
Park on the battle-field at Peachtree creek a 
laudable one. This field was the scene of an 
exhibition of daring and gallantry on the part 
of the soldiers of both armies not often sur- 
passed. In fact, the battle-fields in the campaign 
of 1864 in northern Georgia will be celebrated 
places in all coming time. It was a struggle 
of gigantic forces in the field, for five or six 
months, that will fix the attention of military 
men forever. I, personally, bore an obscure 
part in this great drama, having the command 
of only one brigade. But I can testify to the 
oreat oeneralship of our commanders and those 
of the enemy. We marched, we fortified, we 
fought from Buzzard's Roost to Jonesboro, da}' 
after day and month after month. I cannot 
now recall the memories of the daring deeds 
and desperate chances brought to light by sol- 
diers of both armies. Of course the battle-field 
at Peachtree creek ought to be purchased and 
marked. I can see, this moment, the long lines 
of the enemy steadily marching up the ridge 
toward us. reaching across a long field into the 
woods on either hand, while our men came 
also in good order to meet them. Both pushed 
for the hilltop in the open field near where a 
cotton-gin was burned. It was a calm before 
a terrific storm. I never saw the dead and 
wounded so numerous, where I took part, as 
they lay then in a few minutes. But such is 
war." 



Atlanta National Military Park, 



GENERAL DANIEL BUTTERRELD. 



General Butterfield 
commanded the Third 
Division of tlie Twen- 
tieth Army Corps, 
Federal forces, and 
took an active part in 
the battles around 
Atlanta. 



" I wish to express my earnest and sincere 
sympathy with the movement to establish a mil- 
itary park at Atlanta. I hope your committee 
will carry it out and have success complete 
as a most worthy and honorable duty. As 
soon as I am able to do any work I will heartily 
recommend it and work for it. The splendid 
work of General Joseph E. Johnston and his 
army against our army, superior in numbers, 
deserves and will receive recognition ; and re- 
membering such brave work should always 
have recognition, I hope the work of your 
committee will be persistent and bring about 
success." 



Cop% of tt)e HoQ^e ?)i[{ 

H. R. 946. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

December 5, 1899. 

mr. livingston introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the committee on military affairs and ordered to 

be printed. 

A BILL 

Establishing the Atlanta National Military Park. 

Bi' it e/iactcd by tlic Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of Anieiiea in Congress assendded, That upon the ceding of jurisdic- 
tion by the legislature of the State of Georgia, and the report of the 
Attorney-General of the United States that a perfect title has been 
secured under the provisions of the Act approved August first, eighteen 
hundred and eighty-eight, entitled "An Act to authorize condemnation 
of land for sites of public buildings, and for other purposes," or under 
the provisions of the Act approved February twenty-second, eighteen 
hundred and sixt3--seven, entitled " An i\ct to establish and protect 
national cemeteries," the lands embraced in the area bounded as herein 
described are hereby declared to be a national park, to be known as the 
Atlanta National Military Park; that is to sa)-: 

[Here follows a technical description of the property lines-] 

Sec. 2. That the said Atlanta National Military Park and the ap- 
proaches thereto shall be under the control of the Secretary of War, 
and it shall be his duty, immediately after the passage of this Act, to 
notify the Attorne3--General of the purpose of the United States to 
acquire title to the roads and lands described in the previous sections of 
this Act ; and the said Secretary, upon receiving notice from the Attor- 
ney-General of the United States that perfect titles have been secured 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



to the said lands and roads, shall at once proceed to establish and sub- 
stantially mark the boundaries of said park, and he may proceed with 
the establishment of the park as rapidly as jurisdiction and title to the 
separate parcels of land described in section one of this Act may be ob- 
tained for the United States. 

Sec. 3. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to enter into 
agreements, upon such nominal terms as he may prescribe, with such 
present owners of the land as may desire to remain upon it, to occupy 
and cultivate their present holdings, u})on condition that they will pre- 
serve the present buildings and roads, and the present outlines of field 
and forest, and that they will only cut trees or underbrush under such 
regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, and that they will assist in 
caring for and protecting all tablets, monuments, or such other artificial 
works as may from time to time be erected by proper authority. 

Sec. 4. That the affairs of the Atlanta National Military Park shall, 
subject to the supervision and direction of the Secretary of War, be in 
charge of three commissioners, each of whom shall have actively partic- 
ipated in the Atlanta campaign, two to be appointed from civil life by 
the Secretary of War, and a third, who shall be detailed by the Secre- 
tary of War from among those officers of the Army best accpiainted 
with the details of the battles of the Atlanta campaign, who shall act as 
secretary of the commission. The said commissioners and secretary 
shall have an office in Atlanta, and w4iilc on actual duty shall be {^aid 
such compensation out of the appropriation provided in this Act as the 
Secretary of War shall deem reasonable and just. 

Sec. 5. That it shall be the duty of the commissioners named in the 
j)receding section, under the direction of the Secretary of War, to super- 
intend the opening of such roads as may be necessary to the |)urposes 
of the park, and the repair of the roads of the same, and to ascertain 
and definitely mark the lines of battle of all troops engaged, so far as 
tlie same shall fall within the lines of the park as defined in the ])re- 
vious sections of this Act, and, for the purpose of assisting them in 
their duties and in ascertaining these lines, the Secretary of War shall 
have authority to employ, at such coni|)ensation as he may deem rea- 
sonable and just, to be paid out of the appropriation made by this Act, 
some person recognized as well informed in regard to the battles of the 
Atlanta campaign, and who shall have actively participated in one of 
those battles ; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, from 



Atlanta National Military Park. 39 



and after the passage of this Act, through the commissioners and their 
assistant in historical work, and under the Acts regulating the condem- 
nation of land for public uses, to proceed with the preliminary work of 
establishing the park and its approaches as the same are defined in this 
Act, and the expenses thus incurred shall be paid out of the appropria- 
tion provided by this Act. 

Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of the commissioners, acting under the 
direction of the Secretary of War, to ascertain and substantially mark the 
locations of the regular troops, both infantry and artillery, within the 
boundaries of the park, and to erect monuments upon those positions as 
Congress may provide the necessary appropriations; and the Secretary 
of War in the same way may ascertain and mark all lines of battle within 
the boundaries of the park and erect plain and substantial historical tab- 
lets at such points, in the vicinit}^ of the park and approaches, as he may 
deem fitting and necessary to clearly designate positions and movements 
which, although without the limits of the park, were directly connected 
with the battles of the Atlanta campaign. 

Sec. 7. That it shall be lawful for the authorities of any State having 
troops engaged in the battles about Atlanta to enter upon the lands and 
approaches of the Atlanta National Military Park for the purpose of 
ascertaining and marking the lines of battle of troops engaged therein: 
Provided, That before any such lines are permanently designated the 
position of the lines and the proposed methods of marking them by 
monuments, tablets or otherwise shall be submitted to the Secretary of 
War, and shall first receive the written approval of the Secretary, which 
approval shall be based upon formal written reports, which must be made 
to him in each case by the commissioners of the park; and the Secretary 
of War and the Secretary of the Navy are hereby authorized to deliver 
to the commissioners of the Atlanta National Military Park, at the park, 
such number of condemned cannon and cannon balls as their judgment 
may approve, for the purpose of their work of indication and marking 
locations on the battle lines within the park: Provided fiirtlicr, That no 
monuments or memorials shall be erected upon any lands of the park, or 
remain upon any lands which may be purchased for the park, except upon 
ground actually occupied in the course of battle by troops of the State 
which the proposed monuments are intended to commemorate, except 
upon those sections of the park set apart for memorials to troops which 
were engaged in the campaigns but operated outside of the legal limits 



40 Atlanta National Military Park. 



of the park; and State memorials shall be placed on brigade lines of battle 
under the direction of the park commission. 

Sec. 8. That the Secretary of War, subject to the approval of the 
President of the United States, shall have the power to make, and shall 
make, all needed regulations for the care of the park, and for the estab- 
lishment and marking of the lines of battle and other historical features 
of the park. 

Sec. 9. That to enable the Secretary of War to begin to carry out the 
purjjoses of this Act including the condemnation and purchase of the 
necessary land, marking the boundaries of the park, opening or repairing 
necessary roads, maps, and surveys, and the pay and expenses of the 
commissioners and their assistant, the sum of two hundred thousand 
dollars, or such portion thereof as may be necessary, is hereby ap{)ropri- 
ated out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and 
disbursements under this Act shall require the approval of the Secretary 
of War, and he shall make annual report of the same to Congress. 




SCENE ON MARIETTA STUEET. 



Tt)e Cit^' of Atlanta. 



p^TT^HP] Atlanta of today is about 
thirty-five years old. In 1847 
there was a settlement, or village, 
called Marthasville, which grew into a 
city of about eleven thousand within 
less than fifteen years, which, for that 
period, was a fast growth. 

Just before the war opened in 1 86 1 
Atlanta was a hustling young city. At 
that distant period the spirit of enter- 
prise, that has at all times been peculiar 
to Atlanta, was in evidence on all sides, and instances the adage that 
the child is parent to the man. 




42 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



The Confederate Government was not long finding in Atlanta a strong 
military center. It became one of the largest depots for the stores of 
war, and was prominent throughout the great struggle as a point of im- 
])ortance, from many considerations. In the three years in which At- 
lanta forged her mighty forces in behalf of the country she loved, she 
attracted the attention of the world and became the point objective for 
Sherman and his powerful army; and in these three years Atlanta, with- 
out intending to do so, doubtless, was noted throughout the North as a 
natural industrial center. 

In the late war with Sj:)ain the headtpiarters of the United States 
Army, Department of the Gulf, were located at Atlanta, and a vast 
amount of commissary and financial business connected with the opera- 
tions of the war was transacted here. 

In November, 1864, only three hundred houses, and these compara- 
tively small, were left of Atlanta's ten hundred and more houses. The 
rest had gone up in smoke. The inhabitants had fled before the furi- 
ous storm of war ; and desolation, ruin and ashes were on all sides. 
All was lost save that spirit which seems to have discovered Atlanta as 




SCKNE ON NORTH PRYOR STREET. 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



43 




SCENE OX WHITEHALL STREET. 



an abiding" place, and guides and governs her people. Another town 
was begun — a second Atlanta — the Atlanta of today. The Coat of 
Arms of the city typifies the history of this plucky metropolis. Where 
can we find a more thrilling instance of energy, faith and courage ? 
Rapidly she gained prominence in the days when America had no cities 
scarcely, and when razed to the ground, or nearl}^ so, by a war of dev- 
astation, she has passed into conspicuous importance throughout the 
Avorld. 

The early settlers of Atlanta have, with few exceptions, gone to their 
reward; and a rich one they gained, all who knew them confidently be- 
lieve. There are a few remaining among her citizens who knew Atlanta 
before the war, and their story is ever entertaining. The city is yet so 
young, that when an adult states Atlanta as his place of birth, surprise 
is expressed — the exception is the rule. 

One of the characteristics of Atlanta is that the wisdom dLSplayed by 
her founders — far-seeing men who recognized in the location a city des- 
tined to be great commercially and socially, a vast railroad center and 



44 Atlanta National Military Park. 



consequently a manufacturing one — is upheld in pride by their succes- 
sors; and rivalry is not selfish when the progress of the city is involved — 
therefore, solid results are here for all. 

It is evidently a source of deep gratification to the Atlanta people to 
recognize in their rapid growth, a stability and excellence that wins the 
admiration of her sister cities, not only in her own State, but in the whole 
South ; and that they build and plan for Atlanta's future upon the prin- 
ciple that the World is open to all ; and their successes are never achieved 
save by high, broad and open competition. 

The making of Atlanta the capital of Georgia, before the ruins of war 
and the great scars of battle were removed, shocked many of the inhab- 
itants of Georgia, who naturally clung to Milledgeville, at which town 
the capital was located ; but by degrees Georgians recognized advantages 
in the change, and in 1877 voted for Atlanta as their capital. With the 
exception of Atlanta, and Nashville, Tenn., there is not another capital 
town in the United States that enjoys the distinction of being the most 
important city in point of population, commerce, etc. As a fact, the 
capitals of the States are not esteemed as influential centers in any other 
than political matters. Atlanta may be said to be the only exception, 
as Nashville has always been Tennessee's principal city, while Atlanta 
was a mere fire-swept village thirty-five years ago. 

America is noted throughout the world as "peculiar" in respect to tlie 
location of her National and State capitals. In foreign countries the 
capitals are in the principal cities. As a rule, American States fight shy 
of mixing politics and commerce. Here, again, Atlanta has illustrated 
her fine poise and progressive excellence, by demonstrating that politics 
have no part in her magnificent plans and achievements, and that she 
honors the State that honored her as its capital. 

Inspired by the same motive, dominant in all periods of Atlanta's his- 
tory, in 1 88 1, not twenty years ago, a proposition went out to hold here 
a Cotton Exposition. The whole South was invited to partici|)ate, and 
the States realizing the necessity of making broader approaches to the 
centers of capital, agreed to co-operate in the undertaking. They never 
did a wiser thing, as the Exposition demonstrated the resources of the 
South splendidly and drew millions of capital to Southern enterprise. 
Atlanta, as usual, looked out for its share, and the next ten years of 
growth of the city is good j^roof that this share was not small. 

A high order of genius, coupled with indomitable perseverance, ])k'inned 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



45 




SCENE OX PEACHTREE STREET — LOOKING NORTH FROM ELLIS STREET. 

a still greater Exposition for Atlanta, and in 1S95 when the gates of 
"the South's greatest fair" were thrown open, even the promoters and 
builders of the vast enterprise were dazzled. Chicago had scarcely com- 
pleted its "World's Fair," and many predicted a failure for the Interna- 
tional Exposition undertaken by Atlanta, as it was thought the World's 
Fair had filled the exposition season for the remainder of this century. 
Imagine the wonder and surprise of all, when it was discovered that the 








SCENE ON WASHINGTON STREET — LOOKING SOUTH FROM WOODWARD AVENUE. 



46 



Atlanta National jMilitarv Park. 



Cotton States and International Exposition assumed proportions of sue 
cess almost immediately. 

So vivid were the impressions made upon the outside world of Atlanta's 
wonderful prowess, illustrated in this masterstroke, that new and greater 
things were pledged to her future. It would be difficult to compute the 
benefits to the whole South of this magnificent manifestation of her vast 
possibilities. 

Another very comforting result of the Exposition of 1895 rests in the 
fact that while Chicago was more or less depressed by her World's Fair, 
the opposite was shown as to Atlanta's Exposition ; the results here were 

exhilarating, and 
fresh enterprise im- 
mediately followed. 
This proved that in 
the South the real 
materials and solid 
foundation for great 
industrial growth are 
present, and only 
need development. 

Great conflagra- 
tions may visit a town 
and be survived, and 
often, as instances 
:)rove, the town be 
benefited because of 
the cash that comes 
jack from the insur- 
mce companies to 
>ay the fire losses. 
lUit here, in 1864, 
Atlanta is in ashes 
and holds no other 
policy of insurance 
than the grim sneer 
of war. Not only was 
it reduced to cinders, 

BUSINESS BLOCK ON NORTH PRYOK STREET. b U t ll a Cl n O C a S n 




Atlanta National Military Park. 



47 




GEORGIA STATE CAPIIOL. 



equivalent. But Americans are brothers after all, and though no insur- 
ance money was at her command to repay her vast losses, there were men 
in the North and East and West who had faith and brotherly love. 
War anci hate were forgotten, and although there was scarcely enough 
cash in Atlanta at that time to close a trade for a load of watermelons, 
last year, i8gg, the bank clearances were nearly one liuiidrcd niiUions of 
dollars ! Remembering that Atlanta is not a port, this sum is magnificent. 

In 1865 the railroads leading into Atlanta were not much more than 
scrap iron and rights-of-way. Many had been torn up and the rails 
heated over |)iles of burning cross-ties and then bent out of the custom- 
ary shape of rails. In 1899 Atlanta received about two-sixths of the 
freight delivered in Georgia and Florida, which means over seventy 
thousand car-loads. 

In 1865 the post-ofifice receipts in Atlanta were among the most in- 
significant in the South. Last year the receipts were something over 
one-third of the entire receipts for Georgia post-ofifices. 



48 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



The commerce in 1899 reached sixty-one millions of dollars, and 
this amount, of course, does not include insurance, real estate or mis- 
cellaneous matters. There are several concerns in Atlanta that transact 
business to the amount of millions of dollars per 3^ear, and have con- 
stantly scores of salesmen on the roads throughout the South. The old 
practice of merchants going North for goods in spring and fall is about 
extinct. The business of the South, approaching nearer a cash basis 
each year, enables the country merchant to buy oftener and, hence, 
nearer home. 

Real estate in Atlanta was without any fixed value in 1865. Thirty- 
five years later we find it valued at $70,000,000. These figures are not 
hazy ; they are conservative and represent private property in shape of 
blocks of business houses, hotels, large ofifice buildings, factories and 
residences, built of stone, brick, steel and wood. Atlanta has a stone 
capitol that cost over a million, 116 churches, county court-house, city 
public and government buildings that cost millions. 

When war lifted her torch, packed her plunder and pulled off from 

the " doomed city " 
there were few left 
behind to tell the 
tale. Atlanta today 
has a population 
proper of fully lOO,- 
000, and the census 
of 1900 will bear this 
statement out ; be- 
sides there are at 
least 30,000 who 
make Atlanta busi- 
ness headquarters. 

What made At- 
lanta ? Nature, it is 
claimed, has many 
ideal city sites. A 
city away from the 
sea or a water-course 
is handicapped to a 
certain extent. Most 
of the o-reat cities of 

THE PRUDENTIAL lUII-DING. *-"■ '""'- O 





y 



^^ e(Pi A«i| m, s*^* 1^ 



55 siiilJi 



1 U\44M'^^M"^^^ 




^iA'»- 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



49 



the world are locat- 
ed on water. Chica- 
go is the first nota- 
ble exception. There 
are conditions, 
though, that deprive 
the Windy City of this 
distinction, for she 
has the lakes and now 
connects with the sea. 
Chicago has a rich 
country surrounding." 
Atlanta lias no lake, is 
seven miles from the 
Chattahoochee river, 
and that is not navi- 
gable ; the country 
surrounding is not 
specially fertile. 

One can ride 
around Atlanta and 
within a radius of 
twent3'-five miles find 
several locations that 
would suggest su])e- 
rior advantages for 
an Atlanta as a site. 
But when these are 
all summed up and you have talked with engineers and "old inhabi- 
tants," and have seen the little suburban towns about Atlanta, you de- 
cide in favor of Atlanta. The geographical position of Atlanta, as well 
as the topographical advantages, are apparent, and figured in the original 
plan of its founders. But the answer to the oft- repeated question: "What 
made Atlanta?" is contained in the potential secret of unity. The peo- 
ple are united — they are cohesive in all that concerns their city. From 
twelve o'clock midnight ushering in a new year until midnight 365 days 
thereafter, every inhabitant of Atlanta is for Atlanta first, last and for- 




ECiUITABLE BUILDING 



so 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



ever! In the answer 
is another positive 
and fixed fact — en- 
ergy of a transcend- 
ent type marks the 
Atlantians. There 
are no factions in At- 
lanta that allow any 
"difference" to im- 
pede the eternal pro- 
gress or hurt the 
well-being of the 
city. The press of 
Atlanta has, at all 
times, been an ac- 
tive advocate of its 
best interests, and a 
spirit of activity and 
liberality has ever 
marked the busi- 
ness men of the city 
in supporting a 1 1 
that would advance 
its welfare. 

Then, too, the 
climate is delightful 
and salubrious. It 
is the largest city 
of its elevation in America, being nearly 1,200 feet above the sea 
level. The breezes blowing from the Blue Ridge Mountains, not far off, 
temper the summer days. The atmosphere is invigorating and buoyant. 
The surface is rolling and the natural drainage is good. The water sup- 
ply, derived from a mountain stream, is excellent both as to quality and 
quantity, and the uniform wisdom of the city government has placed 
the water rate at almost nominal cost. 

The munici[)al government of Atlanta has always been more of busi- 
ness than [)olitics. Men are chosen for positions upon their fitness rather 
than because of their personal ambitions. Unlike most cities, all men 




ATLANTA CONSTITUTION BUILDING. 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



51 



in Atlanta take an 
interest in the busi- 
ness management of 
the city, and are not 
content to submit 
impotently to any 
attempt at ring ma- 
nipulations. The 
material from which 
the so-called city 
fathers is selected 
must stand the test 
of thoroughness; 
and they must be- 
long to the class 
that has the proper 
claim to recooni- 
tion. 




FEDERAL BUILniNG AND POST-OFFICE. 




COUNTY COURT-HOUSE. 



The administrations 
have been broad, liber- 
al and far - reachingf. 
In planning for water 
and lights, for streets 
and sewerage, for 
schools and public 
buildings, etc., the pre- 
vailing scope has been 
expansive. A future was 
to be provided for, the 
bounds and metes of 
which impressed all as 
vast. Bold measures 
were necessary, and this 
involved courage. They 
had no old city to en- 
large, but merely a 
small, new town, to be 
built on the foundation 
of a hypothecated here- 
after. 



52 



Atlanta National Military Park. 




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Atlanta National Military Park. 



53 




PLANT OP THE FULTON BAG AND COTTON MILLS. 

There are over 9,000 people employed in Atlanta manufactories, receiv- 
ing $3,000,000 in wages annually. This sum does not include the large 
sum paid in salaries to those engaged in other industrial lines, not of 
the manufacturing class. The raw materials used in manufactories here 
amounts to over $7,500,000, anci finished products are valued at double 
this sum. The cotton mills use up the cotton crop of four or five aver- 
age counties. 

The manufacturers in Atlanta do not wait on any chances; they take 
business at its positive phase, and one of their characteristics is to drive 




PLANT OP THE NATIONAL FURNITURE COMPANY, 



54 



Atlanta National Military Pari 



their business as 
far as possible 
fro m chance. 
Wherever trade 
is k n o w n i n 
lines of goods 
made in Atlan- 
ta, the products 
of its manufac- 
tories are to be 
found. 

Salesmen are 
sent to all parts 
of the Union 
and to foreign 
countries, and 
markets are cre- 
ated for the out- 
put. The man- 
ufacturing i n - 
d u s t r i e s de- 
serve particular 
commenda ti on 
and encouragement for their enterprise, for in pushing their own 
matters they have advertised Atlanta everywhere. 

The financial and banking institutions of the city are classed among 
the best. Being a financial center the surrounding country transacts a vast 
amount of business here, and though the premium, as a rule, is small, yet 
in the general results profits pile up and dividends and surpluses accumu- 
late. The habit of depending on New York in exchange matters will 
gradually {)ass away, as the capital will be brought to Atlanta for eco- 
nomic and prudential business reasons. 

Insurance experience in Atlanta is somewhat in the line of the irony 
of fate. A little more than a third of a century has j)assed since 
Atlanta, in chaos, the victim of fire, that burned to the center and cir- 
cumference, was, to be metaphorical, scorned by insurance. No one so 
poor as to do her honor. Today Atlanta is the third city of the Union 
as to amount of fire and life insurance reported and written. It is the 




POLICE HEADQUARTERS. 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



55 




ATLANTA WATERWORKS — PUMPING STATION. 



SjLithern headquarters for over fifty of the largest fire insurance com 
panies of the world. There are several home companies here that re 
port an excellent business. This 
cannot be otherwise than compli- 
mentary to Atlanta's fire depart- 
ment (which, by the way, shows 
a wonderfully small per cent, of 
fire losses). The central position 
of the city has attracted these 
companies. There are thirty odd 
large fire insurance companies 




PLANT OP THE GEORGIA ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, 



56 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



with general or extensive offices here ; and about fifty companies doing 
various kinds of insurance. 

Atlanta has peculiar facilities for the transactions of all sorts of busi- 
ness. There are many of the most extensive concerns of the United 
States represented here through general agents, and the business of 
some have grown to such proportions that branch factories or plants 
must, as a consequence in the natural order of business, be placed here. 

With all these advantages and many others which appear more fully 
subsequently, Atlanta has a wholesome and inspiring public spirit and 
cordiality and business. Strangers find here a welcome and feel that 
the cosmo[)olitan ease prevailing comes from a liberal compact and 
contact with the world. There is nothing narrow, shortsighted or 
cliquish in the public treatment of newcomers. People are here from 
all parts of the Union and many foreign countries. The advantages of 
the city are open to all. As to the level one reaches, this is regulated 
here, as in all 
other cities, by 
laws governing 
social and busi- 
ness affairs. 

A distinctive 
characteristic of 
Atlanta is the 
Americanism of 
the town — broad 
in her public life, 
building church- 
es, schools, and 
institutions " fcr 
charity's sake '' 
without regard to 
religious or polit- 
ical caste, sub- 
scribing to anv 
and all m o v e - 
ments in behalf 
of the city's in- 
terests. She is (tKAxi) opera house. 
equally liberal in her social life, when sure of her guest. 




Atlanta National Military Park. 



57 




KIMBALL HOUSE, 



Much as there is to say of her various natural advantages and her 
institutions, these, after all, are creatures of the people of Atlanta, and 
the result of that same spirit working out its marvels in physical 
form. This is the spirit that has made Atlanta a household word in 
every city, town and hamlet in the United States, and has carried her 
fame to almost every community in the world. 

It has long been called the Gate City because of her position, and 
this has been open, never once closed since the dawn of her new day. 
It has been called the "Chicago of the South," " New York of the 
South," etc., because of her commercial and industrial development ; 
but Atlanta is destined to be known as Atlanta through the merit of 
her exertions without any borrowed fame. 



(Atlanta in 3I)ort Cf)apter5. 



Manufacturing. 

In the item by which manufacturing estimates are based and conclu- 
sions formed, Atlanta is justly proud of her achievements in the manu- 
facturing department of her history. Depending upon no one or two 
resources, but, like Massachusetts, taking to her energy, various re- 
sources, creating for them different kinds of industries, the city has be- 
come a factor in the industrial operations of America. 

Atlanta has 165 well established and creditable manufactories not 
counting various small concerns. Of these 165 there are several that 
will compare with any in the country, notably cotton oil mills, paper 
and bag factories, special machinery works, crackers and candy. There 
are a dozen kinds of industries engaged in manufacturing products of 
iron, lumber, leather, metal, clay, artificial stone, fertilizer, agricultural 
implements, wagons, buggies, furniture, tobacco, cottonseed-oil, etc., 
overalls and pants, crackers, candies, drugs, chemicals, jjaints, oils, ice, 
bottling works, wooden and willow goods, bicycles, publishing houses, 
and miscellaneous too numerous to name in this brief sketch. 

Commerce. 

So many in all parts of the Union have considered Atlanta mainly as 
a commercial center, it is a pleasure to agree with them, and at same 
time, while showing the reason for the jjrevalence of such an impres- 
sion to call attention to the fact that the pressure against the present 
commercial practices and conditions, so far as the South is concerned, 
being increased year by year as the population and wealth increases in 
the South, is destined to bring about a revolution in the relationships of 
business. In a word, the South will produce her wares, her necessities; 
and more, and become self-sustaining. Let this proposition, if such it 
be, put all on notice. 

Emphatically Atlanta is a commercial city, a great one — one of the 
greatest in the world for its age. Having no port it has been handi- 
capped to some extent. But this difficulty is overcome by many 
counter advantages. It is the meeting point of two vast trade tides ; 
from the East has come, within the past eight years, over 500,000,000 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



59 




IIENRV W. ClRAnV HOSJPITAl,. 



pounds of freight ; from the West the tonnage of freight is still more 
amazing, because of the kind. Its weight was over a billion pounds. 
These met here, and in a few notes under Trans|)ortation Matters its un- 
loading points are shown. 

Atlanta is a gateway. This Eastern freight is less bulky and consists 
of a different class to the average Western freight, the latter being made 
up of corn, meat, hay, iron, machinery, etc. Now this tremendous com- 
mercial tidal wave shows only a portion of the materials shipped into 




GEORGIA SCHOOL OP TECHNOLOGY, 



6o Atlanta National Military Park. 



the South, and gives a hint of the vast possibilities here for manufac- 
turing, profitable agriculture, and almost every line of developing a 
country rich and powerful in spite of herself (in some instances). 

The wholesale trade of Atlanta — a part of her commerce — last year 
amounted to, in groceries and dry-goods, over $15,000,000; in hardware 
above $3,000,000; liquors, drugs, etc., nearly $2,000,000; miscellaneous, 
$5,500,000. 

Horses and mules give Atlanta's commerce in this line a place next 
to St. Louis, which is the largest mule and horse market in the world. 
Two-thirds of the stock shipped to Atlanta goes on to South Carolina, 
Florida, Alabama and parts of Georgia. Atlanta handles a third, or in 
round numbers, 65,000 horses and mules, valued at over $5,000,000. 

As a coal and coke market Atlanta ranks up well. In price steam 
coal averages $1.75; domestic, $3.50 to $4.25. The supply of wood is 
abundant. 

The cotton business is not extensive, in comparison with many other 
Southern towns, but the average receipts amount to from 150,000 to 
175,000 bales per year. 

The fruit industry is growing; and so with many other articles of 
commerce and domestic use, making Atlanta an objective point. 

Many large manufacturing concerns, located throughout the United 
States, maintain branches here. There are over fifty such houses here, 
doing a business of three and a quarter million dollars per year. 

Atlanta as a Residence. 

More than any Southern city iVtlanta is cosmopolitan. Congenial 
people are met here, if anywhere, as the citizens are made up of families 
from all parts of the Union. The splendid advantages for residential 
architecture have been esteemed in Atlanta, as results show, and some of 
the residences are given in illustration. 

The per cent, of idlers frequently seen in cities is not noticeable here. 
The licjuor traffic is under strict rules of high license and short hours 
and the police are especially vigilant. 

We have spoken of climate, which is not excelled anywhere. For 
twenty years the average temperature has been 61; January 42, February 
47, March 52, April 62, May 61, June 76, July yS, August 76, Septem- 
ber 72, October 62, November 52, December 45. 

There are beautiful driveways and parks, large hotels, clubs, lodges, 
theaters, a Y. M. C. A., etc., etc. The church facilities have been kept 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



6i 




SOUTHERN MEDICAL COLLEGE. 



before the very founders of Atlanta, and the city today has some beau- 
tiful temples; there are ii6 churches in the city. 

There are many suburban resorts within twenty-five miles of Atlanta; 
while inside of seventy miles you are in the Blue Ridge mountains. 

The Parks. — Grant Park has many attractions, including a zoo, a lake, 
drives, etc.; Lakewood Park; Piedmont Park; Fort McPherson, the U. S. 
Army Post. 

Hospitals, Infirmaries and Sanitariums. — ^There are several private 




JLWISH ORPHANS HOME. 



62 



Atlanta National Military Park. 



sanitariums, among the principal being the Halcyon, owned by Dr. J. 
B. S. Holmes; the Elkin & Cooper Sanitarium and National Surgical 
Institute. Grady Hospital and St. Joseph's Infirmary are institutions of 
large proportions. 

There are several eleemosynary institutions, among them the Home 
of the Friendless, Jewish Orphans' Home and church homes. 

Water and light form a leading consideration in deciding on a home. 
The water comes from a mountain stream, the Chattahoochee river, and 
is taken at a point several miles above the city. The supply is over- 
abundant; the consumption never approaches exhaustion of supply and 
would not were the city several times larger than at present. The water 
is filtered by a modern process, pumped up-hill for nearly five miles and 
is pronounced by all excellent. From a financial standpoint Atlanta's 
waterworks, owned by the city, is a success. 




HENRY \V. (JHADY MUXIMIJXT. 



THE FRANKLIN PhTG. & PUB. CO., ATLANTA, Ga- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 498 681 7 




